How BYU's 2012 football opponents fared: Week 7

In college football, winning isn't the only factor. Who you beat, and how, is a vital part of moving up the rankings and getting into a good bowl game. So each week during the 2012 season, we'll take a look at how BYU's past and future opponents performed.

First-year coach Mike Leach's campaign continued to take on water last weekend, and the Cougars' offense continued their struggles. Starting QB Connor Halliday was subbed out for good partway through the first quarter after throwing two INTs, giving him five picks in his last 29 pass attempts. Backup Jeff Tuel couldn't rally his offense for a comeback win, and the Cougar defense never had a real chance to get at Cal's QB. Good thing they have a bye week to get ready for their next shellacking...er, opponent — Stanford.

In what might be considered the most competitive game Weber State has played in their season, the Wildcats couldn't hold back the tide against Sacramento State. Weber State was tied with the Hornets, 7-7, at halftime, but a second half that featured a safety, a field goal, a tipped pass pick and another fumble gave Sacramento the space they needed to put Weber away. It would appear that John L. Smith's move to Arkansas hurt both the Wildcats and the Razorbacks in ways neither fan base would like to admit.

(Sorry! No Highlights.)

Next up: Saturday, Oct. 20, at Southern Utah

Utah (2-4, 0-3 Pac-12)

Last week: Lost on the road to UCLA, 21-14

The wheels appear to be coming off Kyle Whittingham's wagon, and starting true freshman Travis Wilson in the Rose Bowl didn't help. The Utes scored only one offensive touchdown, the second coming courtesy of Ryan Lacy, who recovered a muffed punt in the end zone. The Utes have lost four straight Pac-12 games dating back to last season and are on the verge of going 0-4 to start their Pac-12 schedule for the second year in a row. To stop the bleeding, they'll have to upset a top-10 team on the road — the same team that overcame BYU's blackout.

Boise State won their seventh straight game against the Bulldogs in a game that fit the pattern of Boise's season: great defense and average offense. Both programs consider this game a rivalry game, and the series even has a traveling trophy — the Milk Can. With no games scheduled for the foreseeable future, the Can appears to have found a permanent home in the capital of the Gem State.

Next up: Saturday, Oct 20 vs. UNLV

Hawaii (1-5, 0-3 MWC)

Last week: Lost 35-23 at home to New Mexico

If the wheels are coming off Kyle Whittingham's wagon, they've already fallen off of Norm Chow's. The Warriors in green suffered the wrath of a Lobos team that hasn't won outside the borders of New Mexico since 2007. The New Mexico offense piled on 442 yards, 322 of which came on the ground. Meanwhile, Hawai'i had only run three offensive plays up to the 5:46 mark of the first quarter, largely because of turnovers. Despite that, they managed to get within 5 points of the Lobos in the fourth quarter, but couldn't stop New Mexico from scoring an insurance touchdown.

Sorry! No highlights.

Next up: Bye

Utah State (5-2, 1-0 WAC)

Last week: Won at San Jose State, 49-27

The Utah State Aggie defense lived up to its reputation against the rush — they allowed only four yards on the ground and sacked SJSU QB David Fales 13 times. They did, however, allow 467 yards through the air — by far the most passing yards they've allowed this season. USU's offense, however, was nigh indefensible. USU QB Chuckie Keeton threw for 273 yards, threw 3 TDs (0 INTs), and rushed for a fourth TD. Kerwynn Williams scored 3 TDs rushing and tallied up 176 yards, averaging 11.7 per play. Perhaps the Aggie defense allowed so many passing yards because the offense scored so quickly and so often that the defense never got a chance to rest.

Most of the lingering questions as to whether backup Cody Vaz would be able to lead the Beavers after Sean Mannion went down with an injury were answered against BYU. The Cougar defense allowed more than twice as many offensive yards against the Beavers than what they've averaged this season so far. They also allowed Oregon St. to rush for more than 100 yards, only the third time that's happened this season for the Cougar defense. After the game, the Beavers stopped by In-N-Out burger to celebrate—something that is becoming a regular post-game ritual for them.

Next up: Saturday Oct. 20 at home vs. Utah (ESPN 2, 8:30 p.m. MST)

No. 5 Notre Dame (6-0)

Last week: Won vs. Stanford, 24-17

Notre Dame hasn't looked this good in a long time. The Irish fought their way back against the Stanford Cardinal after going down 10-3 in the first half to tie the game as time expired. After the Irish offense opened OT by scoring on an 8-yard pass play, the Notre Dame defense stuffed four straight run plays at the goal line to come away with a win. The Notre Dame defense, led by LDS Hawai'i native Manti Te'o really has never looked stronger.

Next up: Saturday, Oct. 20, at home against BYU

Georgia Tech (2-4, 1-3 ACC)

Last week: Lost at No. 15 Clemson, 47-31

Two minutes into the fourth quarter in Death Valley, Tech had a one-point lead on Clemson. It all quickly unraveled for them as the Tigers answered with a TD, converted two points, and followed up with a safety. Georgia Tech has failed to live up to preseason expectations, and if this trend continues, they will be very eager to right the ship against BYU in two weeks.

Next up: Saturday October 20 at home vs. Boston College

Idaho (1-6, 1-1 WAC)

Last week: Lost at Texas State, 38-7

This Idaho team is a far cry from the team that went to the Humanitarian Bowl in 2009 and won. Against a team in its first year of FBS competition, the Vandals turned the ball over three times and allowed 519 yards of offense. The Vandals are 115th in points allowed per contest at 38, and up next is the highest-scoring team in all of Division I football, Louisiana Tech. If the Vandals have a chance, they'll have to bring their six-shooters, because the only prayer they have is if they win a shootout.

Sorry! No highlights.

Next up: Saturday, Oct. 20 at Louisiana Tech

San Jose State (4-2, 0-1 WAC)

Last week: Lost at home to Utah State, 49-27

What is considered one of the best Spartan teams in a few years lost at home to Gary Andersen's defensive juggernaut for the third year in a row. The Spartans, down 28-3 to the Aggies in the 2nd quarter, scored 17 unanswered points and crawled to within 8. Two USU touchdowns in the first five minutes of the third period, a couple key 4th down stops by USU's defense, and a turnover on SJSU's last-ditch-effort drive were too much for San Jose to overcome.

Previously, the Aggies of New Mexico State lost what might be termed the pillow fight of the year against Idaho. One of both of these teams has been on every ESPN bottom-10 list produced this season, and Idaho only escaped because they beat New Mexico State. The Aggies offense actually outpaced their Vandal counterpart, but coughed up the ball four times. When they managed to get within a touchdown in the waning moments of the game, they couldn't recover the onside kick, and Idaho ran out the clock.